B3. Dietics of obesity, equine metabolic syndrome and chronic starvation of horses

Question 1

Obestity

BCS?

Answer 1

Body fat is likely to be greater than 20-25% of body mass

Henneke 9-point system
BCS 7: is overweight, BCS: 8 or 9 is obese

Question 2

Other ways of measurement?

Answer 2

WAT; Nuchal fat/periorbital fat: poor prediction of total WAT (white adipose tissue) mass

Heart girth: withers height and ultrasonic retroperitoneal fat depth were closely associated with WAT

Question 3

Potentially contributing factors for overweight/obesity?

Answer 3

• Imbalance between energy intake and expenditure: overfeeding
• Genetics “ easy keepers!
• Altered hormonal regulation

Question 4

Conditions of horses for which the risk may be increased by obesity:

Answer 4

• Orthopedic disorders:
o Laminitis, Osteoarthritis

•	Endocrine and metabolic disorders:
o	EMS
o	Insulin resistance/dysinsulinemias
o	Glucose intolerance
o	Hyperlipemia and hepatic lipidosis

•	Abdominal/intestinal disorders: 
o	Pedunculated lipomas
•	Miscellaneous  (various types 
o	Heat intolerance
o	Exercise intolerance
o	Exacerbation of an aging related pro inflammatory state

Question 5

Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS)

Answer 5

Is an inability to regulate blood insulin levels (insulin dysregulation).

Question 6

EMS some facts

Answer 6

Regional fat deposition and a reduced ability to lose weight.
Affects “thrifty” equids such as ponies, donkeys, Arabians, and mustangs.
• Horses with EMS are at a high risk for laminitis.

Question 7

Diagnosis

Answer 7

• Glucose/insulin test
• Oral glucose tolerance test
• Frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test

Question 8

Treatment

Answer 8

Treated through diet and exercise management.

Question 9

Feeding overweight and EMS horse

Answer 9

limit diet to 1.5 percent of their body weight daily.
• increase exercise
• no grain- hay based: 1.5% (1%)BW (8kg)-500BW
• soak hay to remove sugars
• limit grass (dry lot, grazing muzzle, turnout night)
• supplement: minerals, vitamins (1,000 IU/day E vitamin), Aas levothyroxine, metformine

Question 10

Chronic starvation of horses

Answer 10

Chronic starvation and the shift to catabolic metabolism can result in;
- Decreased metabolic rate as a result of decreases in
 protein turnover
 gut size, integrity and digestive function
 activity levels
 body mass
- Decreased body condition. (may only become evident slowly)
- Decreased immune status
- Increased endoparasitism and systemic disease
- Gastric ulceration
- Cold intolerance

Question 11

Very bad starvation case

Answer 11

high risk of death if wont get up.
o put them in a sling or manually make them stand up
o intravenous and oral fluids without dextrose (they are hyperglycaemic)
o tube feeding in case they are not eating
o if they are eating by them self:
o small amounts of grain (0.5-0.7kg in 500kg horse)
o 10-20% vegetable oil should be added
• Slowly increase the amount of feed over 3-4 days
• Vitamin supplementation
o ADEK
o Thiamine – B1, Riboflavin – B2, Pyridoxine – B6, Cobalamine – B12
o Niacin, panththenic acid, biotin, folacin and cholin

Question 12

What can happen if you feed to much to fast?

Answer 12

Refeeding syndrome
Refeeding syndrome: arrhythmia, rhabdomyolysis, paralysis
• Acute laminits
• Diarrhea
• Colic
A starved horse should obtain its bodyweight between 60-90 days